Inhibition by epsilon-polylysine of fat digestion in the stomach and intestine of rats.

In vitro, the inhibition by epsilon-polylysine depends on how the substrate is presented to the lipase. We therefore examined whether epsilon-polylysine can interact with the lipid emulsion and prevent lipase activity in digestive organs. To confirm lipase inhibition by epsilon-polylysine, a (14)C-trioleoylglycerol emulsion with or without epsilon-polylysine was orally administered to rats, and the radioactive lipid distribution determined at regular intervals. The radioactive plasma lipid was decreased, and radioactive fecal lipid was increased by the administration of epsilon-polylysine. The peak of radioactive lipids in the intestine was delayed by the administration of epsilon-polylysine. We used 20-week-old rats as a model for the middle-aged and elderly to test the effect of epsilon-polylysine on the body weight increase. epsilon-Polylysine significantly prevented any elevation in body weight and weight of the liver and epididymal adipose tissues. These data show that epsilon-polylysine inhibited the lipase activity in the digestive organ and had an anti-obesity function in the middle-aged rats.